de Vattel: Of the Instruments of War, the Raising of Troops, and Their Commanders

The Law of Nations or the Principles of Natural Law (1758)Emmerich de Vattel

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Of the Instruments of War, — the Raising of Troops, Etc., — Their Commanders, or the Subordinate Powers in War§ 6. Instruments of war.§ 7. Right of levying troops.§ 8. Obligation of the citizens or subjects.§ 9. Enlisting or raising of troops.§ 10. Whether there be any exemptions from carrying arms.§ 11. Soldiers' pay and quarters.§ 12. Hospitals for invalids.§ 13. Mercenary soldiers.§ 14. What is to be ob-§ 15. Enlisting in foreign countries.§ 16. Obligation of soldiers.§ 17. Military laws.§ 18. Military discipline.§ 19. Subordinate powers in war.§ 20. How their promises bind the sovereign.§ 21. In what cases their promises bind only themselves.§ 22. Their assumption of an authority which they do not possess.§ 23. How they bind their inferiors.
   1. Formerly bishops went to war in virtue of their fiefs, and led with them their vassals. The Danish bishops were not inattentive to a function which pleased them better than the peaceful cares of episcopacy. The famous Absalom, bishop of Roschild, and afterwards archbishop of Lunden, was the principal general of king Waldemarl. And since the use of regular troops has superseded that feudal service, there have not been wanting some martial prelates who eagerly courted the command of armies. The cardinal De la Valette, and Sourdis, archbishop of Bordeaux, appeared in arms under the ministry of cardinal Richelieu, who also acted himself in a military capacity at the attack of the pass of Susa. This is an abuse which the church very justly opposes. A bishop makes a better appearance in his proper station, in his diocese, than in the army; and, at present, sovereigns are in no want of generals and officers, who will perform more useful services than can be expected from churchmen. In short, let every person keep to his vocation. All I dispute with the clergy, is their exemption as matter of right and in cases of necessity. — Ed. 1797.
   2. A bishop of Beauvais, under Philip Augustus. He fought at the battle of Bouvines.
   3. Disc. on Livy.